A year ago, not much was known about defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic except, predictably, that he just had been given the nickname of Pickles.

But he was the sensation of the Sharks training camp, earned a roster spot and went on to lead all NHL rookies in ice time. So when the team gathered last Thursday night, Coach Ron Wilson used Vlasic an example of what is possible.

“Last year Marc Vlasic started at the bottom of the list,” Wilson said. “But by the end of the year he was our best defenseman.”

While Vlasic’s name now is chiseled onto the Sharks’ roster, he faces a different challenge: finding a defensive partner. The steady Scott Hannan is gone, having signed as a free agent with Colorado.

“I thought Scotty and I had a pretty good chemistry,” Vlasic said. “If I made a mistake, he was there to back me up. He showed me how to position myself on the ice. It was great to play with him.”

Actually, Wilson countered, it was the other way around.

“I think Mark helped Scotty more, to be honest,” he said. “Marc is the last guy I’m worried about. We just have to find him someone to play with now.”

The Sharks return five regular defensemen: Vlasic, Kyle McLaren, Craig Rivet, Matt Carle and Christian Ehrhoff. The Sharks have to identify at least one more, and decide on the pairings.

“I don’t know what they want to do, but I’ll make sure they put me out there with that first pairing,” said Vlasic, 20. “I’ll give them no choice but to put me out there. I can play with any one of these guys. It doesn’t matter.”

• Arrive at training camp in poor shape these days and you’re likely to soon find yourself as an ex-hockey player. “Nobody comes in chubby and not fit,” center Joe Thornton said. “It’s a 12-month job.”

Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson believes the players reported in particularly good condition.

“I think we’re one of the top five in the league in terms of fitness,” the G.M. said. “You either come into camp with that foundation and base, or you’ll never catch up. You can’t build that up over the course of the year.”

He said the Sharks – who average about 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds – once again should be the NHL’s biggest team.

“I’m glad I played back when I did,” he said. “Back then, 200 pounds was a big player. These guys are big and fast.”

Defenseman Alexei Semenov, a native of Russia who played 23 games with Florida last season, weighs 235 pounds. But he’s one player who looks somewhat thin because he stands 6-6. He resembles a basketball forward.

“No, I’m not quite tall enough for that,” he said.

• Popular ex-Shark Mark Smith has gotten a tryout with the New York Rangers.

Smith, 29 and an unrestricted free agent, is a six-year veteran who was a fan favorite for his high-energy play. He also drew notice for his multi-colored hair and playing in a band. But he was limited by injuries last year, and with the Sharks loaded with young forwards and adding Jeremy Roenick it was clear there was no room in San Jose.

Doug Wilson said he called Rangers G.M. Glen Sather to put in a good word for Smith.

“We had depth at center and this is a good opportunity for Mark,” he said. “He’ll get a real chance there.”

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